Orienting device.



No. 865,675; PATENTED' SEPT. 10, 1907. E. VON BOMSDORFF.

ORIENTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.26. 19.06.

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PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

E. VON BOMSDORFP. ORIENTING DEVICE.

APP-LIOATION FILED nov.2s.19os.-

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Witnesses.

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No. 865,675. PATENTED SEPT 10, 1907. E. VON BOMSDORPF.

ORIBNTING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 96.1906.

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ERNST VON BOMSDORFF, OF BRESLAU, GERMANY.

ORIENTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed November 26,1906. Serial No. 845,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST VON BOMSDORFF, a subjcct of the King ofPrussia, residing at 43 Goethestrasse, Breslau, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Orienting Devices; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention.

\[y invention relates to orienting devices or range finders whereby theposition for the time being of the range iinder is indicated on the mapor chart and any other position may be found on such map or chart bymeans of an indicator, or the indicator may be moved upon the map orchart to position the telescope on a surrounding point as willhereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are similarly designated,Figure 1, is a side elevation partly in section of the entire device.Fig. 2, is a sectional detail in which the means of securing the chartin central position are more clearly shown. Fig. 3, is a section on lineA B, Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is an elevation of a map or chart holding device,and Fig. 5, is a rear view of the same showing the driving mechanism ofthe pointer.

In Fig. l. I have shown a support which preferably but not necessarilyis a tripod, in the top of which is a pin 2, connected thereon by meansof the ball and socket joint; and mounted upon the pin 2, is the support3 for the telescope 4, 4 or any other suitable device lor sightingdistant objects preferably provided with the usual cross hairs. The pin2, is provided with a boss 2 adjacent the ball, on which is mounted abeveled gear 5 which boss carries a bent plate '7, 7 secured in place bywasher 6 held to the boss of the beveled wheel 5 by screws or any othersuitable fastenings, the two part bent plate 7, 7 being free to rotateon the boss of the stationary wheel 5. The bent plate for convenience ismade with an upper part 7 having an eye that surrounds the boss of thewheel 5 and a lower inclined part 7 secured thereto, on which is mountedthe chart and indicating carrier device said part 7 being inclined tothe axis of the telescope and below the eye piece 4 thereof. On the part7 is a pin 8, Figs. 1-3, over which takes the forked end 9 of a two partclamp t), secured to the telescope support 3 by suitable screws. Takingthrough the forks and engaging the pin 8, on each side are set screws 8so that when the telescope and support 3 are turned the plate 7 willmove with them. Secured to the lower end 7 of the bent plate a bushing10 having a central recess 11 into which his the lower boss 12 of asmall plate 13. Rigidly se cured to 13 is the supporting plate 14 and acard carrying disk 16, both fitting over the upper boss 12 oi smallplate13, more clearly shown in Fig. 2. Passing through the end of thebent plate 7 and loosely into the bushing 10, is a screw 18 havingmilled head 17 said screw being provided with a stop 18 within therecess 11 and secured thereto to prevent the screw from being entirelywithdrawn from the bushing. The end of the screw 18 is screwed into athreaded recess 19 in boss 12 of plate 13.

The map or chart held on disk 16 is covered by a thin transparentprotecting plate 20 preferably, but not necessarily, of mica which isremovably held on plate 16 by means of a metal ring 21 which ring isprovided at a suitable number of points around its periphery with springmetal clamps 21 that take over the edge of disk 16.

The position for the time being of the range finder as indicated on thechart or map must be approximately at the center of disk 16 and forinsuring this a headed needle or pin 22 is passed through the mentionedplace on the chart and stuck into a hole of a clamping part or sleeve 13soldered in a bore 23 in plate 13 and projecting into the recess 19, thelower split end of the sleeve 13 serving to hold the needle fast.

In order that the screw 18 shall not prevent the complete insertion ofthe needle, the end of this screw is provided with a hole or recess 18into which the point of the needle may enter, see Fig. 2. In front ofthe disk 16 is a thin metal indicator strip held on edge and preferablyextending diametrically across the same, provided with an index point 25at its lower end, showing the direction of view across the map 15, Fig.4, and between the middle and the index point 25, the strip is graduatedas shown at 24, either on one or both sides thereof corresponding to thescale of the chart. Ad justable along the strip 24 is a position marker26 which can be set to any desired point on the chart along the strip24.

The ends of the indicator strip 24 are secured in pins 27 at oppositeends, which pins are mounted on the outer ends of arms 28 below the disk16, said arms being secured to projections 29 on a ring 30, Fig. 1 and5, rotatable on a sleeve 3]. that is mounted on the bushing 10. A red32, supported under one of the arms 28 at its outer end, has a milledhead 33 and a threaded end 34 passing through the ring and is adapted tolock this ring to the sleeve 31 so that the strip 24 may move in unisonwith the sleeve and a gear wheel 35 secured to the sleeve. The gearwheel 35 engages with a smaller gear 37 rotatable on a piece 36 securedto the part 7. The pinion 37 gears with a gear wheel 38 mounted on theaxle or pin 39 which passes through the portion 7 and has mounted on iton the lower end a gear wheel 40 which gears with the beveled gear 5 sothat when the telescope is turned on its axis the plate 7, 7, moves withit and the gear wheel 40 rolls on the beveled wheel 5 and drives gearwheel 38, pinion 37 and gear wheel 35 to rotate the arms 28 and thestrip 24 about the center of disk 16, the gears being so proportionedand arranged that the strip 24 will move through the same angle and inthe same direction as the telescope and indicate the direction of sightacross the chart.

The method of using the apparatus and its operation are as iollows:Themap of the neighborhood in which an orientation is desired, is, asalready stated, so arranged upon the plate or disk 16 that the stationof the apparatus for the time being upon the map lies accurately in thecenter oi the disk 16 which center coincides with the axis of rotationof the pointer '24.

To enable this to be rapidly and conveniently effected, the disk isremoved from the apparatus. For this purpose the screw 18 is loosenedand the disk 16 raised a little so that the projection 12 is brought out01 the recess 11 of the boss 10 after which the plate 16 is withdrawnsidewise from beneath the pointer 24 which is an elastic or yieldingband. After the ring 21 and the transparent mica plate 20 have beenremoved the map 15 is arranged in a simple and rapid manner in thedesired position. upon the plate 16 by thrusting the needle 22 throughthe point on the map which corresponds to the station of the apparatusand then thrusting the needle into the clamping device 13 (Fig. 2). Themap 15 may be as large as desired as it can be so folded that the piecevisible just covers the disk 16. When the map 15 has been secured by theneedle 22 the transparent plate 20 and the ring 21 are again placed uponthe disk 16 and the disk is again secured to the angle plate '7 by beingpushed under the pointer 24 and the projection 1.2 being pressed intothe recess 11, the screw 18 being finally screwed into the hole 19.Before the screw 18 is tightened up however the disk 16 is turned,should occasion require it, so that the map 15 is brought into thecorrect position opposite the observer, that is to say a position inwhich the northern part of the map lies at the top. If, after the map 15has been arranged upon the disk 16 in the manner described, theapparatus is to serve for the determination upon the map of the positionof a fixed point in the territory, such as for example the position of ahill occupied by a battery, then the telescope 4 is first directed uponany other desired point in the territory the position of which upon themap is known, for example a known village, and then the pointer 24,after loosening the screw spindle 32, is so adjusted that its hall":which carries the direction indicator 25 passes through the known pointmentioned 1'. e. the village. Then after the screw spindle has beentightened up again the apparatus is ready for use. To find out upon themap any desired point in the territory it is merely necessary to adjustthe telescope 4 towards this point; the pointer 24 which always moves incorrespondence with the telescope 4 will then cut the point sought uponthe map, so that the point can be easily determined upon the map byestimating the distance in the territory. The marking slide 26 is thenset upon the point in question of the map 15 and then the length of thedistance of this point from the station of the apparatus read off uponthe pointer scale. When the pointer 24 has been once correctly set, thenany desired point in the territory can be determined upon the map in themanner hereinbeiore described by directing the telescope 4 upon theparticular point in the territory and determining the point sought uponthe map by-the help of the pointer 24. Conversely a given point on themap may be determined in the territory by means of the new apparatus. Inthis case it is only necessary to rotate the telescope 4 until thepointer 24 cuts the corresponding point on the map, the point sought inthe territory then lies in the line of sight of the telescope 4.

"he new apparatus is particularly suitable for military purposes but mayalso be used for other purposes such as tourist purposes or the like.Thus for example the apparatus may be set up on a lookout point and mayserve to determine upon the map any desired points in the surroundingterritory, or conversely may serve for determining in the territory anydesired points on the map.

The new apparatus is distinguished by its simple and convenientmanipulation and enables the desired point to be rapidly determined uponthe map or in the territory. In consequence of the map plate or disk 16being arranged obliquely below the eyepiece 4 of the telescope theterritory can be observed through the telescope 4 and the map 15 lookedat in rapid succession, while in consequence of the adjustability of thepointer 24 this pointer and the map can be rapidly and accuratelybrought into the correct relative position. The removability of the disk16 enables the map to be conveniently arranged thereon, and by securingthe needle 22 by a clamping device any movement of the point on the mapcorresponding to the station of the apparatus out of the axis ofrotation of the pointer 24 is prevented. The slide 26 and the scaleprovided on the pointer 24 facilitate the determination of the distanceof the point sought from the station of the apparatus.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is:-

1. In an orienting device the combination with a sighting device and amap carrier movable with the sighting device, of an indicator rotatablein front of a map carrier and mechanism operatively connecting theindicator and the sighting device to maintain the indicator across themap in the relative line of sight.

2. In an orienting device the combination with a telescope movablearound a vertical axis and a map carrier connected to and movable withthe telescope; of an indicator and mechanism to impart to the indicatorthe same angular movements as the telescope and means to independentlymove the indicator.

3. In an orienting device, the combination with a telescope support anda telescope movably mounted thereon, of a chart carrier movable inunison with the telescope, an indicator movable over the chart, andcooperating means on the carrier and support to actuate the indicator bythe movement of the telescope and carrier.

4. in an orienting device the combination with a telescope and anormally stationary plate, a sleeve split at its end secured in thecenter thereof, a pin adapted to pass into and be held by the split endof: said sleeve, an indieator strip and means to impart angular movementthereto corresponding to the horizontal angular movement of thetelescope.

In an orienting device the combination with a telescope; of an angleplate connected thereto and partaking oi the horizontal movements of thetelescope, a fixed gear concentric with the vertical axis of rotation ofthe telescope, an indicator and gearing between the fixed gear andindicator to impart like angular movements to the indicator when thetelescope is moved.

6. In an orienting device the combination with a telescope; of a map orchart carrier in an inclined position beneath the eye piece of thetelescope, an indicator and mechanism to impart the same angularmovements thereto as the angular movements of the telescope when moved.

7. In an orienting device the combination with a telescope movable abouta vertical axis, of a bevel gear wheel Iixed concentric with saidvertical axis, a strip fixed to move with the telescope, a removable mapsupporting plate secured to the strip, an indicator mounted to rotateabout the axis of the plate and mechanism to impart the same angularmovement to the indicator on the telescope, and 10 means to permit themovement of the strip independent of the telescope.

-In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence 01 two subscribing Witnesses.

ERNST VON BOMSDORFF. Witnesses EnNs'r KATZ, EnNs'r BLmscH.

